BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 19, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
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The New York Yankees have some clear roster priorities as the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings begin in Orlando.
The team will be continuing negotiations with free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger’s camp. And the front office has signaled some interest in acquiring a right-handed bat to balance out its lefty oriented lineup.
But the starting rotation could also be a key area of focus, as several important pitchers have already been ruled out for the beginning of the season.
Clarke Schmidt won’t be available until the middle of next season at the earliest after undergoing elbow surgery. Carlos Rodon likely won’t be back until after the season begins after his own surgery as well.
But perhaps the most critical absence will be a continued recovery for franchise ace Gerrit Cole, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, missed all of this past season and won’t be back until after Opening Day. When asked for the latest timeline on Cole’s return, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman offered only a vague estimate.
“Somebody can push May, to me I always — it could be June,” Cashman said during an appearance on MLB Network on Sunday. “Listen, he’ll be ready when he’s ready. No one’s going to outwork him. He’s prepared mentally and physically at all times. So, we’ll see where it takes us.”
Cashman followed that update by diving into his concern around the status of the rotation given those injuries. And he noted that, even after the team added swingman Ryan Yarbrough for some depth, it could continue to explore pitching additions with Cole’s return far from certain.
“But ultimately we are vulnerable early on, because of Rodon’s surgery and Cole’s surgery,” Cashman added. “So that’s one of the reasons we brought Yarbrough in and we are also having conversations about potentially, how can we protect ourselves in the starting rotation. Because, when they’re all healthy — which they never are — but when they’re all healthy, they’re firing on all cylinders, it’s a great rotation.”
For his part, Cole has conceded that an Opening Day return is out of the picture, but he hasn’t offered more of a concrete timeline than Cashman.
“(The doctors) mentioned that Opening Day is probably out of the picture and that seems to make the most sense at this point,” Cole told the New York Post’s Madeline Kenney, when asked about his timeline. “But when, afterwards, I’m not exactly sure. Hopefully as soon as possible.”
It seems like all parties expect Cole to return at some point next season, but it’s hard to say just how well the 35-year-old will bounce back with so many innings on his arm. And with that uncertainty looming, it seems like the Yankees are shopping for some reinforcement.